Helpful Score: 7
I thought this is one of Pilcher's best. It made me smile sometimes and broke my heart a little and I am always sorry when I turn the last page ona Pilcher novel.
Helpful Score: 6
Great story - perfect for curling up with on a long winter evening.
Helpful Score: 6
I really liked this story. It reminded me womewhat of Maeve Binchy's stories, as it is set in Ireland and the north of Scotland, but has a different format. The characters are believable, and one wants to root for them. Chapters are headed with the names of a character, then the focus is more on them than the other characters but it still continues in a seamless telling of the lives of all. Great midwinter read! Setting is the two months before Christmas, leading up to the New Year.
Helpful Score: 6
Beautiful story of love, family, friendship...
Helpful Score: 5
Over 500 pages of unforgettable characters and compelling story line...5 extremely different people are thrown together and the emerging freiendships that will change each of their lives forever...
Helpful Score: 3
I found this book a little hard to get into, but once I did, I didn't want it to end! A lovely lovely story about human kindness,
true friendship, and love.
true friendship, and love.
Helpful Score: 3
Elfrida Phipps, once a famous actress on the London stage, retires at age 62 and moves to the sleepy Hampshire village of Dibton. She never anticipates going off with a man. But after a devastating tragedy, her first friend from when she arrived in Dibton, Oscar Blundell - the church organist - asks her for companionship. So, with her brown-and-white dog in tow, Elfrida begins her journey.
What she doesn't realize is that also joining her and Oscar in the rundown Victorian mansion in Scotland, will be Carrie, a young woman with a broken heart recently returned from Australia after ending her affair with a married man. Joining her will be her young teenage cousin Lucy, who Carrie has agreed to look after, when she discovers that her mother and aunt are constantly squabbling. Sam Howard is an American whose wife leaves him for another man. He is a man without a home and without roots, so when his job sends him to Scotland, he jumps at the chance to go.
He falls in love with the lush, craggy landscape and sets his sights on a house. These five very different people - Sam, Carrie, Lucy, Elfrida and Oscar - will form firm friendships that will change all their lives forever. I really enjoyed this book. It was a first time read for me - the writing was beautiful and it flowed along nicely for me. I give it an A+!
What she doesn't realize is that also joining her and Oscar in the rundown Victorian mansion in Scotland, will be Carrie, a young woman with a broken heart recently returned from Australia after ending her affair with a married man. Joining her will be her young teenage cousin Lucy, who Carrie has agreed to look after, when she discovers that her mother and aunt are constantly squabbling. Sam Howard is an American whose wife leaves him for another man. He is a man without a home and without roots, so when his job sends him to Scotland, he jumps at the chance to go.
He falls in love with the lush, craggy landscape and sets his sights on a house. These five very different people - Sam, Carrie, Lucy, Elfrida and Oscar - will form firm friendships that will change all their lives forever. I really enjoyed this book. It was a first time read for me - the writing was beautiful and it flowed along nicely for me. I give it an A+!
Helpful Score: 2
Rosamunde Pilcher is the ultimate storyteller ~ she weaves an engaging web of characters that draw you in and make you feel quite at home with them.
Helpful Score: 2
A wonderful story about circumstances bringing together several individuals. No "perfect" people in Pilcher's book, thus, much more enjoyable.
Helpful Score: 2
This was a very heart warming book.
Helpful Score: 2
This is one of my favorite novels. I have it on audio (unabridged) and listen to it at least once a year. Very addictive.
Helpful Score: 2
Cute little story. Easy reading. If you like sappy (and I do!), this is for you!
Helpful Score: 2
It starts out kind of slow, but by the 5th chapter I was hooked. A very good story taking place in London, then Scotland. This author weaves a very fine yarn. Her characters are so personable. I couldn't put it down, then wanted more. I wanted the story to go on and on!
Helpful Score: 2
Colorful Elfrida Phipps, 60-ish and single, has retired from a lifetime on the stage to a country retreat in Hampshire, England. There, she is befriended by Oscar and Gloria Blundell and their 12-year-old daughter, Francesca. Oscar, an organist, is somewhat older than his wife and the Blundells live in Gloria's family house. When Gloria and Francesca die in an automobile accident, Gloria's sons from a previous marriage inform Oscar that they are selling the property and he must leave. Elfrida persuades the grief-stricken, penniless Oscar to return to his childhood haunt, Corrydale, in Creagan, Scotland. His grandmother's grand estate is now a hotel, but the former estate manager's house is vacant and still belongs to the family. With few ties herself, Elfrida moves with Oscar to Creagan, where he plans to escape the upcoming Christmas festivities and the sad memories they will arouse. A distant relative of Elfrida's is also looking for a quiet place to spend the holidays. Beautiful, stylish 30-year-old Carrie Sutton is escaping a painful love affair. She has rescued her 14-year-old niece, Lucy, from Lucy's neglectful mother and grandmother, and the two seek asylum with Elfrida and Oscar. When handsome, successful, separated Sam Howard knocks on their homey door in a snowstorm, there is nothing to be done but invite him to stay, and the five souls from three generations find Christmas isn't so sad, after all.
Helpful Score: 1
Enjoy another Pilcher novel!! Very good.
Helpful Score: 1
As always Rosamunde Pilcher is a great novelist.
Helpful Score: 1
A delightful story set in the UK. Lovely characters.
Helpful Score: 1
Lovely story about late "blooming" romance.
Helpful Score: 1
couldn't put this one down!
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed it a lot.
Helpful Score: 1
Rosamunde Pilcher is one of the best author's I have read. Her characters are well developed. Her stories are intricate and thoughtful.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this book very much, I think most of Rosamunde Pilcher books are very good, she writes the type of books that you do not want to put down and you can not wait to get back to it again, this is that type of book.
Helpful Score: 1
A very pleasant book, especially if you are an Anglophile. Atmospheric, makes you wish you went to remote town in Scotland with the characters. Things fall into place quickly for the distressed but likeable characters, but in a mostly believable way.
Helpful Score: 1
good book
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are very in depth. They carry you right along through the whole book. Excellent.
Helpful Score: 1
a story of love loyalty and rebirth
Helpful Score: 1
This is a wonderful book, as many of Pilcher's are. Reading her books are rather like listening to your friend tell you great stories about her friends in Scotland.
Helpful Score: 1
Like all of Rosamunde Pilcher's books, this one is full of deep, memorable characters who seem like real people. I didn't want the story to conclude!
Helpful Score: 1
Rosamunde Pilcher is absolutely my favorite author. I've read her work for many years and love her characters and story lines. She's just wonderful.
Helpful Score: 1
One of Pilcher's best!
Helpful Score: 1
I read this last Christmas season. I hated for it to end. I bought one and sent to my sister and gave my copy to my husband who also enjoyed it. I'm ready to pass my copy along for others to enjoy.
Helpful Score: 1
Love her style....Very hard to put it down. The story flows well. I had the feeling that it was a book updated from the 60's to modern day, but it was still good.
Helpful Score: 1
Elfrida Phipps goes to a rundown Victorian house in Scotland where she finds a young woman nursing a broken heart, a teenager escaping an unhappy home and a stranger arriving during a snowstorm. These very different people form an unexpected circle of friends that changes their lives.
Elfrida Phipps settles in a quaint English village with her dog, Horace, and good neighbors. Tragedy strikes and five people must confront different challenges or losses. As the soltice passes and Christmas approaches, the healing power of love begins to work its magic.
This book is on my all-time favorite list. I read it every year before Christmas.
This book is on my all-time favorite list. I read it every year before Christmas.
I love Rosamunde Pilcher's writings. I felt as though I knew the family and lived just down the road. When her books ended I felt like I had lost a dead friend.
Pilcher does an amazing job when she describes each scene. She holds your interest as
the events evolve and really shows the kindness of people. This is another book that
You absolutely must put on your list!
the events evolve and really shows the kindness of people. This is another book that
You absolutely must put on your list!
Elfrida Phipps, once on the London stage and retired at 62, never anticipates going off with a man. But after a devastating tragedy, church organist Oscar Blundell asks for her companionship. So with her brown and white dog in tow, Elfrida begins her journey, not knowing that joining her and Oscar at a rundown Victorian house in Scotland will be a young woman nursing a broken heart, a teenager escaping an unhappy home, and a stranger arriving during a snowstorm. Now these five very different people form an unexpected circle of friends that will forever change their lives.
Charming story of a diverse, vaguely related group of people snowed in together for a few days at Christmas season/winter solstice in Scotland. Even though you can probably guess how things will be resolved, it is a heartwarming tale with easy-to-relate-to, memorable characters.
Among Pilcher's "thick" books, I prefer Coming Home and The Shellseekers to this one, but it's not bad. A bit slow.
Anything by Rosamunde Pilcher is excellent.
Elfrida Phipps, once on the London stage and retired at 62, never anticiaptes going off with a man. But after a devastating tragedy, church organist Oscar Blundell asks for her companionship. So with her brown and white dog in tow, Elfrida begins her journey, not knowing that joining her and Oscar at a rundown Victorian house in Scotland will be a young woman nursing a broken heart, a teenager escaping an unhappy home, and a stranger arriving during a snowstorm. Now these five very different people form an unexpected cirlce of friends that will forever change their lives.
I read this for book club. It makes me remember I don't care for romance novels.
Elfrida Phipps, once on the London stage and retired at age 62, never anticipates going off with a man. But after a devastating tragedy, church organist Oscar Blundell asks for her companionship. So with her brown-and-white dog in tow, Elfrida begins her journey not knowing that joining her and Oscar at a rundown Victorian house in Scotland will be a young woman nursing a broken heart; a teenager escaping an unhappy home, and a stranger arriving during a snowstorm. Now these five very different people form an unexpected circle of friends that will forever change their lives. . .
Elfirda once on the London stage and retired at 62, never anticipates going off with a man. But after a devasting tragedy, church organist Oscar Blundell asks for her companionship. So with her brown and white dog in tow she begins her journey...
Elfrida Phipps, once on the London stage and retired at 62, never anticipates going off with a man. But after a devasting tragedychurch organist Oscar Blundell asks for her companionship.
Elfrida Phipps, once on the London stage and retired at 62, mever anticipates going off with a man. But after a devastating tragedy, church organist Oscar Blundell asks for her companionship. So with her brown and white dog in tow, Elfrida begins her journey.
Elfrida Phipps, once on the London stage and retired at 62, never anticipates going off with a man. But after a devastating tragedy, church organist Oscar Blundell asks for her companionship. So with her brown-and-white dog in tow, Elfrida begins her journey not knowing that joining her and Oscar at a rundown Victorian house in Scotland will be a young woman nursing a broken heart, a teenager escaping an unhappy home, and a stranger arriving during a snowstorm. Now these five very different people form an unexpected circle of friends that will forever change their lives...
Elfrida Phipps, once on the London stage and retired at 62, never anticipates going off with a man. But after a devastating tragedy, church organist Oscar Blundell asks for her compainonship.
